Bracknell Forest

Bracknell Forest's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Bracknell Forest increased by 3.3%, from almost 110,000 to 113,000.

The addition of almost 3,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bracknell Forest was home to, on average, 7.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bracknell Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bracknell Forest increased by two years, from 35 to 37 years.

This affluent suburban area had a lower average age than the South East and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 2,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 9.0% of people in Bracknell Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Bracknell Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bracknell Forest

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 30% said they had no religion. An increase from 19% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Bracknell Forest.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18% to 30%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 65% of those who disclosed their religion in Bracknell Forest said they were Christian, down from 78% in 2001. About 0.4% said they were Sikh, up from 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 8.0% to 7.0% between the last two censuses.

In Bracknell Forest, 7.0% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In South East the percentage was 7.9% and across England the percentage was 7.7%.

The population without a religion in Bracknell Forest increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Bracknell Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bracknell Forest

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 5.7% to 5.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 1.9% in 2001. The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 92% to 91%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Bracknell Forest, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Bracknell Forest, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.9% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Bracknell Forest remained close to 17%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 68%.

Private renting in Bracknell Forest increased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bracknell Forest, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Bracknell Forest

In 2011, 5.0% of the local population said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups. An increase from 2.3% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Bracknell Forest.

Across the South East, the percentage of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 91% of people in Bracknell Forest said they were from the White ethnic groups, down from 95% in 2001. About 2.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 1.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 1.0% to 1.9% between the last two censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Bracknell Forest increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Bracknell Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 5.6% to 3.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (87%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 75% in 2001. The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 19% to 10%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bracknell Forest decreased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bracknell Forest, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Bracknell Forest

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Bracknell Forest, the proportion of single people increased from 30% in 2001 to 32% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30% to 35%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Bracknell Forest fell from 53% to 50%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Bracknell Forest working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 12% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (62%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 64% in 2001. While the percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that were self-employed increased from 8.5% to 9.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Bracknell Forest increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Bracknell Forest, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Bracknell Forest with children remained close to 33% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 58%, while the percentage of households in Bracknell Forest with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.9% to 9.2%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Bracknell Forest, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 10% to 11% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bracknell Forest which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 42% to 39%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Bracknell Forest residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.6% to 1.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.6% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Bracknell Forest remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Bracknell Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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